Comparative Effects of Steroids on Skin Maintained in Organ Culture. II. Estradiol, Progesterone, and Testosterone

Summary

Full-thickness, auricular skin from adult mice was maintained in organ culture for 1–5 weeks. The effects of estradiol benzoate, testosterone, and progesterone incorporated in the culture medium were studied, and the ability of skin to function as an autograft after treatment with these steroids was compared. The gross and microscopic changes produced by these compounds were studied. Wet and dry weights were compared for the skin maintained for different lengths of time with, the steroids added to the medium. Skin treated with progesterone functioned successfully as autografts after up to 5 weeks in organ culture. Testosterone obtained results essentially similar to those previously reported for cortisone. Estradiol, on the other hand, somewhat reduced the time the tissue could be held in vitro and still function as an autograft. In addition, it enhanced the loss of the architectural integrity of the skin in vitro. Progesterone and, to a lesser extent, testosterone protected the normal histologic features of the cultured skin. The significance of these results in terms of the dichotomy of structural integrity and functional ability is discussed.